Sedum plant named ‘Dream Dazzler’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Sedum  plant named ‘Dream Dazzler’ that is characterized by its very compact plant habit with stems that do not flop, its plant size that reaches about 23 cm (9 inches) in height and 46 cm (18 inches) in spread, its unique variegated foliage colors; under full sun exposure leaves are dark purple with hot pink margins, under part sun exposure leaves are light purple with hot pink margins, under shade conditions leaves are blue-green with white and pink margins, and its resistance to  Sedum  foliage blight and powdery mildew.

Botanical classification: Sedum hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Dream Dazzler’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date. Disclosures include but are not limited to publications on www.greatgardenplants.com, www.growingcolors.com, www.facebook.com/2Plant/posts/sedum-dream-dazzler, www.2plant.com, www.gardencentermag.com, and press releases related to Pack Trials 2018.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sedum plant, botanically of hybrid origin and known as Sedum ‘Dream Dazzler’ referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘Dream Dazzler’. The new cultivar of Sedum is a hardy herbaceous perennial grown for use as a landscape and container plant and as a groundcover.

‘Dream Dazzler’ was discovered in August of 2014 by the Inventor outdoors in a container block in Hudsonville, Mich. as a branch sport mutation of Sedum ‘Plum Dazzled’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,348).

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem tip cuttings in April of 2015 in Hudsonville, Mich. Propagation by tip stem cuttings has determined the characteristics to be stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Dream Dazzler’ as a unique cultivar of Sedum.

-   1. ‘Dream Dazzler’ exhibits a very compact plant habit with stems     that do not flop. -   2. ‘Dream Dazzler’ reaches about 23 cm (9 inches) in height and 46     cm (18 inches) in spread (unique for a variegated Sedum). -   3. ‘Dream Dazzler’ exhibits unique variegated foliage colors; under     full sun exposure leaves are dark purple with hot pink margins,     under part sun exposure leaves are light purple with hot pink     margins, under shade conditions leaves are blue-green with white and     pink margins. -   4. ‘Dream Dazzler’ has been observed to be resistant to Sedum     foliage blight and powdery mildew.

The parent plant of ‘Dream Dazzler’, ‘Plum Dazzled’, differs from ‘Dream Dazzler’ in having foliage that is not variegated and solid purple in color. ‘Dream Dazzler’ can also be most closely compared to the cultivars ‘Lajos’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,421) and ‘Razzleberry’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,457). ‘Lajos’ is similar to ‘Dream Dazzler’ in having variegated foliage and a flowering period in late summer. ‘Lajos’ differs from ‘Dream Dazzler’ in having foliage colors with green centers and creamy-white margins, leaves that are twice as larger in size, a taller plant height and fewer stems. ‘Razzleberry’ is similar to ‘Dream Dazzler’ in being a ground-cover type Sedum and in having similar flower characteristics. ‘Razzleberry’ differs from ‘Dream Dazzler’ in having leaves that are non-variegated and light purple in coloration, an earlier blooming period (2 to 3 weeks earlier) and leaves that are slightly larger in size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Sedum. The photographs were taken of plants about 9 months in age as grown outdoors in 1-gallon containers in Hudsonville, Mich.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘Dream Dazzler’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Dream Dazzler’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the inflorescences of ‘Dream Dazzler’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Sedum.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observed on 6-month-old plants of ‘Dream Dazzler’ as grown outdoors in 2-qt containers in Hudsonville, Mich. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—5 weeks in late summer in Michigan.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Very compact plant habit, spreading, stems that             do not flop.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 23 cm (9 inches) in height             and 46 cm (18 inches) in spread in the landscape.         -   Hardiness.—At least hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 4 to 9.         -   Diseases and pests.—Highly resistant to Sedum foliage blight             (caused by Septoria sedi) and powdery mildew (caused by             Erysiphe cichoracearum), no occurrence of either has been             observed during 3 years of observation, no resistance or             susceptibility has been observed to pests.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, 159C in color.         -   Propagation.—Stem tip cuttings and division.         -   Root development.—Roots initiate in 15 days and a young             plant is fully rooted in a 4-inch container in about 90             days.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous. -   Stem description:     -   -   Stem shape.—Oval.         -   Stem size.—An average of 26 cm in length (excluding             inflorescence), 5 mm in width.         -   Internode length.—Average of 2 cm.         -   Stem color.—Young branches; 145A, heavily to moderately             flushed with 182A, mature branches; 138B, heavily flushed             with 183A.         -   Stem surface.—Glabrous and shiny.         -   Branching habit.—An average of 21 branches per plant growing             from base. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptical.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Both opposite and alternate.         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute to bluntly acute.         -   Leaf venation.—Not conspicuous.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire and moderately serrulate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Most leaves are Petiolate, some are             sessile.         -   Leaf number.—An average of 34 leaves per branch.         -   Leaf orientation.—Nearly horizontal to slightly upward,             slightly cupped.         -   Leaf texture.—Thick, succulent.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces dull and glaucous.         -   Leaf color.—Variegated, upper and lower surface; base to             mid-section 137A, mid to upper section N79A and heavily             flushed with 63A, margins NN155C and heavily suffused with             N66A.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 4 cm in length and 2 cm in width. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Dense, slightly rounded cymes with an             average of 3 terminal forked branches at terminus and upper             lateral nodes, blooms are present on top of the plant.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 4 cm in diameter and 5 cm             in depth (inclusive of forked branches) per individual cymes             and up to 9 cm in length and 6 cm in width for the compound             cyme, and up to 17 cm in width and 10 cm in depth for all             cymes on a stem.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—At least one month.         -   Flower type.—Perfect, spreading, 5-starred.         -   Flower number.—An average of 40 flowers per branched cyme,             an average of 10 to 20 flowers per stem.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower buds.—Ovate in shape, about 5 mm length and 2 mm in             width, glabrous surface, 63A in color.         -   Flower size.—About 4 mm in depth and 1 cm in diameter.         -   Peduncles.—Round in shape, an average of 1.5 cm in length             and 1 mm in width, secondary average 2 mm in length and 0.5             mm in width, 145A, heavily to moderately flushed with 182A,             glabrous surface.         -   Pedicels.—Round in shape, an average of 5 mm in length and             0.5 mm in width, 187A in color, glabrous surface.         -   Calyx.—5-parted.         -   Sepals.—5, tube; about 1 mm in length and width, color;             N189B, flushed with 187A, lanceolate in shape, entire             margin, narrowly acute apex, fused base, glaucous on both             surfaces.         -   Petals.—5, spreading, 3 mm in length and 1 mm in width,             lanceolate in shape, rounded base, acute apex, entire             margin, color; inner surface when opening and fully open;             base 65D, rest of surface a blend of 65C, 71A and N74A,             outer surface when opening and fully open; base 65D, rest of             surface a blend of 65C, N74A and 71A, glabrous on both             surfaces. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistils.—5, showy, held erect, about 3 mm in length 1 mm in             width, stigma; minute, smaller than 0.5 mm and 161A in             color, style; ovate, rounded in shape, cone like, and 63A in             color, ovary; small, single celled and translucent in color.         -   Stamens.—10, about 4 mm in length, filament; very fine, 63A             in color, anther; club shaped, about 0.5 mm in length and             width, 161A in color, pollen is moderate in quantity and             N74A in color.         -   Fruit.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed to             date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Sedum plant named ‘Dream Dazzler’ as described and illustrated herein. 